published by: Plume
publish date: May 28, 2013
On the eve of the Second World War, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.
More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?
I'm a big fan of Sarah Jio's books. I've read all of her books so far. While I liked this one, I didn't think it was her best, in my opinion.
The Last Camellia is organized like all of Jio's other books. It has two story lines, one set in the past and one in the present, the two story lines eventually connect in an interesting and unexpected way.
We have to wait a few more weeks for this one to come out, but I think the Jio fans will line up for it. It's slated for release at the end of May, so that makes it perfect for adding to your Summer Reading List.
I'm disappointed to hear that it isn't as good as her other ones. I love her books.
ReplyDeleteI think the difference might be that the tone of this book a bit darker than her others. Her books always seem to have a little sparkle of something, magic? wonder? somthing and this book seemed to lack that. It was still an interesting story, but not like the others.
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